www.Multiplayergames.com – Multiplayer Games

There was a review written a while back, where and for what game is unimportant, that stated basketball is the hardest sport to translate into a video game. Hockey games can fake the physics, football games can get away with pre-programmed maneuvers, and baseball is a fairly static sport.

Basketball on the other hand is constantly in motion, with players consistently on the move requiring an incredibly diverse set of animation to deliver any sense of fluidity and accuracy. This is important because times change, and with the advent of the UFC, things become complicated.

Here’s a sport that has countless possible solutions. The fighters could stand, clinch, go on the ground, try submissions, switch positions, or more. Unlike boxing, MMA is deep, which leads into UFC Unleashed, a rebirth of sorts for the fighting series given life back on the Dreamcast.

From the start, the game readily addresses the sports complexities. A lengthy tutorial takes close to 25 minutes to pass, although it probably isn’t necessary to demonstrate sitting on the ground waiting for the referee to step in. The control system, a mixture of buttons and right analog stick motions to secure position, allows for a stunning variety of maneuvers. Despite the depth, the system is accessible. Fiddling with the buttons can lead to a positive outcome with some luck.

Unlike previous UFC titles, health bars are eliminated. Knockouts are based on either accumulated damage or a lucky shot the opponent unluckily leans into. Facial damage is properly gruesome, and blood effects mildly satisfying.

Many players will be happy with standing, going toe-to-toe with their opponent with leg kicks and head punches. At that point, you’re involved in a glorified boxing game. Skilled players go for submissions, although the engine isn’t up for it.

This is where UFC Unleashed becomes sloppy. The right analog control scheme is inaccurate, requiring precise motions that are difficult to gauge when in a pressure situation on the mat. Gaining a submission is also a small matter of slamming on the buttons faster than your opponent, which is in stark contrast to the depth the game is aiming for.

Unfortunately, it is hard to see another solution for grappling, while at the same time offering the variety. Nearly every button serves a purpose on the ground, and the only thing left would be the d-pad. The analog stick allows for an array of possibilities not available with simple button pushes.

Fans of the sport, and certainly those that follow the UFC, will appreciate the effort though. Rather poor memories of the Dreamcast original, where every match was over in a few seconds, are certainly dissolved. Yes, the constant stream of punches and head kicks would knockout a real fighter, but there’s little question the strategy involved in landing those blows more than satisfies simulation fanatics.

Presentation is superb in the ring. Joe Rogan and Mike Goldberg call the fights well, delivering enthusiasm and an added layer of excitement. Camera movements, mid-round breaks, and on-screen graphics are spot-on.

Menus are the lesser part, delivering repetitive music and actual fight calls/interviews. What seems like a fun concept quickly grows tiresome, especially since the words can barely be heard over the roaring crowd from the live events these clips are pulled from.

The menu system itself is also sloppy. A limited create-a-fighter is sufficient, but requiring the user to navigate no less than 10 sub-menus to add a logo to a pair of shorts is ridiculous. Also, why are tattooed custom fighters not allowed to be taken online?

The career mode, certainly the meat of the game for many, is also a bit of a disappointment. Instead of starting on the Ultimate Fighter TV show, the player simply moves up the ranks. Training is done without the aid of mini-games, and sparring is the only interactivity outside of the fights. Interviews and promotional appearances are likewise handled for the player without need for intervention. A constant stream of e-mails is easily ignored.

There’s no need to cut weight, and leveling up is slow. Your fighter never ages despite the game progressing through multiple years. Early fights are difficult, as is the game as a whole. Finishing a full career without a mark would be a worthy achievement.

Online and versus modes are fun competition, but it’s a shame solo players won’t have the same level of enjoyment.

UFC Unleashed is more or less a building block for future (yearly?) updates. Developer Yukes has a strong base, both in terms of accurately replicating a difficult sport and making it fun to play. Depth in the cage is wonderful; depth outside of it still needs work. At the least, they’re not trying to make a basketball game.

Popularity: 4% [?]